ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Differences in acceptability of herb plants and oilseed rape for slugs (A. lusitanicus, A. rufus and D. reticulatum) in food choice tests
 
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1
Institute of Plant Protection – National Research Institute Władysława Węgorka 20, 60-318 Poznań, Poland
 
2
Department of Mathematical and Statistical Methods Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
 
 
Corresponding author
Jan Kozłowski
Institute of Plant Protection – National Research Institute Władysława Węgorka 20, 60-318 Poznań, Poland
 
 
Journal of Plant Protection Research 2008;48(4):461-474
 
KEYWORDS
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ABSTRACT
The following slug species, Arion lusitanicus, Arion rufus, and Deroceras reticulatum were included in laboratory-based multi-choice food tests consisting of 19 herb plants and oilseed rape. Rates of damage to plants at the growth stage of 2–4 leaves were estimated for each slug species and all tested herb plants using oilseed rape as a reference. The following indices were calculated: acceptability index (A.I.), palatability index (P.I.) and consumption index (C.I.). Based on the obtained results four groups of plants were designated: unacceptable, lowly acceptable, moderately acceptable and highly acceptable. Brassica napus, Ocimum basilicum and Coriandrum sativum were accepted by all three examined slugs while Potentilla anserina and Chamaenerion angustifolium were rejected. The acceptance degree for remaining plants varied according to slug species.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors have declared that no conflict of interests exist.
 
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